Health Conditions A-Z Allergies Garlic Allergy: What to Know By Alyssa Hui-Anderson Updated on April 30, 2024 Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, FACP, is a board-certified allergist and former clinical immunologist at Allergy Partners of the Central California Coast. learn more Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. health's fact checking process Close Garlic isn't a "big nine" allergen, but research has found that 132 out of 13,000 people have a garlic allergy. Garlic belongs to the Allium family, along with onions, shallots, leeks, scallions, and chives. About 34 of 132 people with a garlic allergy report another Allium allergy, like a leek or onion allergy. You can experience the effects of garlic allergy from eating it, but you may also have symptoms if it comes into contact with your skin. You may only have a garlic intolerance, meaning you mainly have problems with digesting the food. Read on to learn more. Design by Health Alpha Gal Syndrome and Red Meat Allergy Garlic Allergy Symptoms One of the most common reactions to garlic is oral allergy syndrome (OAS) related to mugwort (sage) pollen allergy. Symptoms can vary from person to person and may show up at different times after exposure. People who have OAS and are allergic to garlic may experience some of the following symptoms: Difficulty swallowingItchiness Swelling of the face, lip, mouth, throat, or tongue The immune system will overreact to its presence in your body if you have an allergy to a certain product or food. The body will then respond by producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, like histamine, causing an allergic reaction. Diagnosis It's important to pay attention to the signals your body is sending you. You can then proactively deal with changes like food sensitivity or allergies. Try keeping a food diary and tracking what foods cause symptoms to determine specific products you may be allergic to. You can also reach out to a healthcare provider for an allergy test, such as a skin prick test or blood test. Keep in mind that allergies can occur at any time. Most allergies are diagnosed in childhood with the introduction of many new foods. Food sensitivities or allergies can develop later on in adulthood. Treatment The primary treatment plan for food allergies is avoidance. You may still be able to have a little garlic if you have a garlic intolerance. How you treat a garlic allergy will also depend on the severity of the reaction. A healthcare provider may prescribe an epinephrine injector, such as an EpiPen, to have on hand in case you have a rare anaphylactic reaction to garlic. Other people with garlic allergies who experience mild allergy symptoms, such as hives or runny nose, may only need over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications. Antihistamines are a common option to use. When To See a Healthcare Provider Consult a healthcare provider if you have any allergies but your allergy treatments no longer work. Immediate medical care is also necessary for anaphylaxis, or an allergic reaction that's severe enough to be life-threatening. Signs of anaphylaxis include: Chest tightness Coughing Diarrhea, stomach cramps, or vomiting Hoarse voice Pale or red face and body Passing out Problems with swallowing or breathing Red rash, including itchy hives or welts Swollen throat or swollen body areas Wheezing Talk to a healthcare provider if you're unsure how severe your allergy is or have other questions about how to manage it. They can ensure you receive all the information you need about treating allergies and avoiding illness. Tips for Managing Garlic Allergy Managing severe garlic allergy entails using an EpiPen or immediate medical care. Management for less severe reactions may include: Avoiding garlicNotifying food staff of your allergy when you dine out or order food for deliveryPrioritizing food label reading 6 Surprising Places Nuts Are Hiding A Quick Review Garlic allergy isn't a major food allergy, but it is a common one. It shares many of the same symptoms as other allergic reactions. You may develop symptoms from garlic consumption or skin exposure. Treating and managing a garlic allergy or intolerance will vary based on how severe it is. See a healthcare provider if you're unsure if you have a garlic allergy, if treatments are no longer working, or if you have signs of anaphylaxis after eating garlic. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 9 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Food allergy. Hamadi W, Casale T. Garlic allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023;151(2):AB175. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.12.548 Jamaluddin J, Jamil SN. An unexpected reaction to topical garlic medicament – a case report of irritant contact dermatitis successfully managed in primary care. Cureus. 2023; 15(1):e33657. doi:10.7759/cureus.33657 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Food intolerance versus food allergy. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Oral allergy syndrome (OAS). American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Allergic reactions. MedlinePlus. Allergies. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Make sure you receive the epinephrine autoinjector you were prescribed. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Anaphylaxis.